They have zero victories in three matches, tying them for last place in the seven-team North American Soccer League. More alarming, they have yet to tally a single goal, a 270-minute stretch of futility that follows them into Saturday's home match against Atlanta.

The Silverbacks (2-0-1, six points), in contrast, enter the contest with an NASL-high eight goals.

The Scorpions (0-2-1, one point) had that in a single game last season, during which they led the entire league with 46 points in 28 matches.

Those days seem as distant after Pablo Campos took his predatory scoring touch to Minnesota. As of yet, the Scorpions haven't adjusted to his absence.

“We don't have a great striker like Pablo,” Denissen said. “But we have to deal with it.”

Despite their lackluster finishing, the Scorpions are fourth in the NASL with an average of almost five shots on goal per game.

That's only about half a shot fewer per match than last season, substantiating the opinion of manager Tim Hankinson that the Scorpions are generating enough chances.

It continued Sunday, when the Scorpions had a goal disallowed for offsides in a 1-0 loss at Edmonton. Hankinson disagreed with that decision, as well as the penalty on defender Kevin Harmse that yielded the only goal.

“In reality, we should be walking out of there with three points instead of nothing,” Hankinson said. “So it's close. I think luck is not with us right now.”

But he also stressed the Scorpions' luck won't change until they start making their own.

“I'm not even concerned about the (standings) at this point,” Hankinson said. “It's about finding a lineup that wants to show hunger and physicality, just a will to win. We've not seen that in the matches, so that's the biggest disappointment.”

Notebook: Hankinson said central defender Greg Janicki is expected to miss four to six weeks with a hamstring strain. He joins striker Bryan Jordan (hamstring) and left back Stephen DeRoux (foot) on the sideline. Janicki likely will be replaced by Pat Phelan or Harmse. ... Harmse (illness) and central defender Luka Vucko (groin) both missed training time this week but are expected to be available tonight.